First Corinthians: Honoring God with Our Bodies

Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth is often called one of his most raw and honest writings. The Corinthian church was alive and active, but with that came challenges—divisions, cultural clashes, and confusion about how to live out their faith in a world that often thought very differently.

One of the biggest issues Paul addressed was sexuality. In the Greek culture of his day, the body was often viewed as separate from the spirit. What you did with your body didn’t matter, they thought—only your spirit did. But Paul offered a radically different view:

Our Bodies Are Sacred

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
—1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Paul reminded believers that their bodies were not disposable shells—they were temples, sacred and destined for resurrection. Sexual intimacy, Paul taught, was more than just a union of body parts. It was a spiritual oneness—a giving of one’s self that reflected God’s design.

Fulfillment Beyond Marriage

But Paul also recognized that not everyone would marry. In 1 Corinthians 7:27–31, he reminded the church that wholeness and fulfillment are not defined by marital status or sexual experience. You can live a completely whole, meaningful life without sex.

That truth was countercultural then—and still is today. Our culture often tells us that intimacy defines our worth or identity. Paul pointed believers back to the truth: our deepest desires can only be fulfilled in Christ.

Living with Anticipation

Paul also urged the church to live with the anticipation of Christ’s return. Believing in the resurrection and the redemption to come freed believers from being enslaved to worldly pursuits. As he saw it, our continuation—our true life—was held securely in God’s hands.

The Living Water We Long For

In John 4, we meet the Samaritan woman at the well. She was looking for love, for fulfillment, in all the wrong places. Jesus told her plainly that the “living water” she longed for wasn’t found in relationships, achievements, or fleeting pleasures—it was found in Him.

When she encountered Jesus, her cycle of disappointment was broken. The same is true for us today.

A Love That Transforms

The heart of Paul’s message is this: Jesus is our one true love. His love transforms us, fulfills us, and sets us free.

Our bodies are not our own; they are sacred. Our fulfillment isn’t in sex or even in marriage—it is in Christ alone.

✨ Takeaway: Whether married, single, or somewhere in between, your identity and worth are not defined by the world’s standards. They are secured in Christ.